This document provides general guidelines for feeding babies from birth to 12 months. It recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months if possible. It also provides sample meal plans and lists of foods to introduce at different ages. It cautions against certain choking hazards and contains health advisories about mercury in fish and HIV/breastfeeding.

1. A rw
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IN er t ref
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Food for
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Baby’s First Year
!
This brochure contains general guidelines for feeding healthy babies. Talk with the nutritionist or
health care provider for more information on feeding your baby.
Feeding tips for your baby:
Be Wise...Immunize
• Babies need shots to protect them from disease.
• Bring your baby’s shot record each time you come to WIC.
WIC is an equal opportunity provider. DH 150-90, 10/10 Stock Number: 5730-090-0150-4

2. Prevent Choking These foods should not be fed to your baby:
• honey—This can cause food poisoning. Also, avoid foods made
Your baby should not be left alone when he/she is eating. with honey such as honey graham crackers.
These foods can cause choking and should not be given to your baby: • corn syrup and other sweet syrups
• popcorn, nuts, and seeds • candies, chocolate, cake, and pie
• potato chips, corn chips, pretzels, and cheese curls • foods and drinks with artificial sweeteners
• peanut butter • soda and sweetened drinks
• hard cookies • all types of coffee and tea
• raisins and other dried fruits • baby food desserts
• raw vegetables such as carrots and celery • food with added spices, seasonings, salt, and fat such as french
fries and breaded fried foods
• marshmallows
Do not feed home-prepared spinach, beets, turnips, carrots, or collards to babies under 6 months old.
• round shaped candies, gum drops, and chewing gum These types of home-prepared vegetables may contain large amounts of nitrites or nitrates which
• hard pieces of fruit, whole pieces of canned fruit, could make babies under 6 months of age sick.
whole grapes, whole cherries, or fruits with pits or
seeds
• granola and plain wheat germ Wait until your baby is 1 year old to feed him/her these foods.
• hot, sticky breads that can “ball up” and cause choking
These foods may cause allergic reactions in babies:
• fish, chicken, or turkey with bones • egg whites
• hot dogs and sausages—These also should not be fed to babies because they are high in • shellfish such as shrimp, clams, crab, lobster, scallops, and oysters
fat and salt. • whole cow’s milk (any type)
• breaded fish sticks and “baby food” meat sticks—These foods are not intended for infants
under 1 year of age.
Health Advisory for Mercury in Fish
Cut, grind, or mash hard-to-chew foods: Fish can be an important part of a balanced diet. However, some fish contain high levels of mercury.
Too much mercury can harm unborn babies, infants, and young children. Therefore, infants should be
fed fish according to these guidelines:
• Cut round foods, like soft-cooked carrots,
1. Infants should not eat these fish with high mercury: Bass (Striped), Bluefish, Chilean Sea
into short strips instead of coin-shaped
Bass, Golden Snapper, Jack (Amberjack, Crevalle), King Mackerel, Marlin, Orange Roughy, Sea
slices.
Lamprey, Shark, Spanish Mackerel (Gulf of Mexico), Swordfish, Tilefish (Gulf of
• Grind tough meat. Mexico), Tuna (all fresh or frozen), and Walleye (Great Lakes).
• Mash or grind cooked beans, corn, and 2. Infants 8 to 12 months old should eat no more than 2 meals per week of a variety
peas. of fish that are lower in mercury. Some of the most commonly eaten fish that are
low in mercury are canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish. White albacore
• Cut cheese chunks into very small, thin
tuna is higher in mercury, therefore light tuna should be selected instead of white albacore tuna.
pieces.
3. Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in local lakes, rivers,
• Cut grapes and cherries into very small
and coastal areas. Information about Florida Fish Consumption Advisories is available at this
pieces and remove skin, seeds, or pits.
website: www.doh.state.fl.us/FloridaFishAdvice.

3. If you feed your baby with a bottle:
Make sure everything is clean: This means hands, kitchen, and equipment. Sterilize new bottles and
nipples before their first use. If you have chlorinated water, clean bottles in the dishwasher or by hand
with warm, soapy water. Otherwise, boil nipples and bottles in water for 5 to 10 minutes.
Formula preparation: Talk with your baby’s health care provider about the most appropriate water
for your baby that is available in your area and whether that water should be sterilized before mixing
with infant formula. Follow the mixing instructions on the label or as given by your baby’s health care
provider. For information about water fluoridation, see the Florida Department of Health, Dental Health
website at: www.doh.state.fl.us/Family/dental/fluoridation/index.html.
To reduce the amount of lead in the water: Do not boil the water for longer than 2 minutes. Use only
cold tap water and let the cold water run for 2 minutes before using it. Do not use hot tap water.
Warming baby’s bottle: The best way to warm a bottle of formula is to
place the bottle in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes, then shake
the bottle. Use a prepared bottle of formula immediately. Throw away any
formula left in the bottle after a feeding. Do not use a microwave oven to
heat breastmilk or infant formula. The liquid heats unevenly, can get too
hot, and can burn your baby’s mouth.
Storing formula: Mixed formula that has never been heated may be
stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Leftover, prepared formula
that has been warmed should be thrown out and not re-refrigerated for future use. Store ready-to-feed
and concentrated liquid formula covered in the original can in the refrigerator. Use within 48 hours of
opening. Powdered formula, which is covered tightly with a lid, may be stored in a cool, dry place for
up to 30 days.
Always hold your baby: Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle or prop the bottle in your baby’s
mouth. Your baby could choke or could develop tooth decay.
Baby Food Tips
• Buy only single-ingredient jars of baby foods such as plain vegetables, fruits, and meats. These baby
foods have a greater nutritional value when compared to baby food mixed dinners. Plain meats can
be mixed with plain vegetables or fruits to make your own “mixed” dinners.
• Plain fruits can be served instead of baby desser ts. Baby desser ts contain added
sugars and starches, and are low in vitamins.
• Feed your baby from a bowl, not from the jar. This way, the baby’s saliva on the spoon will not spoil
the food left in the jar. Refrigerate any food left in the jar and use within 2 days; or 24 hours if it is
meat or egg yolk. Any food left in the bowl should be thrown away.
• Look at the “use-by” date on baby food jars and infant formula cans. “Use-by” dates are located
on the top of baby food jars and on the top or bottom of formula cans. If the date has passed, do
not buy or use the food or formula. Do not buy or use baby food jars if seal is broken. The seal is
broken if the button on the center of the top is popped out. Do not buy or use cans of formula that
have dents, pinched tops or bottoms, puffed ends, leaks, or rust spots. The formula in damaged
cans may be unsafe for your baby.

4. Food for Baby’s 6 to 8 Months 8 to 12 Months
First Year Breastfed Babies
• 4 to 6 or more breastfeedings per day
Sample Daily Meal Plan
for ages 6 to 8 months
Breastfed Babies
• 4 to 6 or more breastfeedings per day
Sample Daily Meal Plan
for ages 8 to 12 months
Formula Fed Babies Early Morning Formula Fed Babies Early Morning
Birth to 6 Months
• 6 to 8 oz formula per feeding • breastfeed or give 6 to 8 oz formula • 6 to 8 oz formula per feeding • breastfeed or give 6 to 8 oz formula
• 4 to 5 feedings per day
• 4 to 5 feedings per day for ages 8-10 months
• total of 27 to 32 oz of formula per day
• 3 to 4 feedings per day for ages 10-12 months
• Pediatricians recommend babies be If your baby is both breastfed and formula fed, Mid Morning Mid Morning
• total of 24 to 32 oz of formula per day
breastfed until at least 1 year of age In the United States, it is talk with the nutritionist or health care provider • 4 tablespoons prepared baby cereal • 4 to 8 tablespoons prepared cereal
recommended that women about your baby’s feeding pattern. • 4 tablespoons pureed fruit or grits
or older.
with HIV or AIDS not breast- Baby Cereal • 4 tablespoons fruit
• If you are thinking about giving feed as the virus can be • 4 to 8 tablespoons or more per day of
infant formula (artificial baby milk) passed to their baby through
Feed your baby only one new food per week. Noon Meal
breastmilk. If you do not know
prepared cereal
to your breastfed baby, talk with the Then you can find out if your baby has a • breastfeed or give 6 to 8 oz formula Noon Meal
your HIV status, please ask • 4 tablespoons pureed vegetables • Begin mixed grain baby cereal at about
nutritionist or health care provider. problem with the new food. • breastfeed or give 6 to 8 oz formula
your health care provider for 8 months.
• 1 to 3 tablespoons pureed meat • 4 tablespoons vegetables
• Babies who are not breastfed need an HIV test.
Vegetables: peeled; soft-cooked or • 1 to 4 tablespoons meat
iron-fortified infant formula until they Baby Cereal
canned; and then ground, mashed, or
are 1 year old. • 4 to 8 tablespoons or more per day of Mid Afternoon
• breastfeed or give 6 to 8 oz formula chopped Mid Afternoon
prepared cereal
• 4 to 8 tablespoons or more per day • breastfeed or give 6 to 8 oz formula
Breastfed Babies • crackers
Birth to 2 months: Pureed Vegetables Evening Meal
Fruits: peeled; soft or soft-cooked or • soft cheese or yogurt
• 4 to 8 tablespoons or more per day • 4 tablespoons pureed vegetables
• 8 to 12 or more breastfeedings per day canned; and then ground, mashed, or
• 1 to 3 tablespoons pureed meat
2 to 4 months: • 4 tablespoons pureed fruit chopped Evening Meal
Pureed Fruits
• 8 to 10 or more breastfeedings per day • 4 to 8 tablespoons or more per day • 4 tablespoons vegetables
• 4 to 8 tablespoons or more per day • 1 to 4 tablespoons meat
4 to 6 months: Before Bedtime
• 4 tablespoons fruit
• 6 to 8 or more breastfeedings per day • breastfeed or give 6 to 8 oz formula Meat or Meat Substitutes: cooked and
Pureed Meats • grains such as noodles, rice, or
• 4 tablespoons prepared baby cereal then ground, mashed, or chopped soft tortilla pieces
• cooked lean meat, chicken or turkey
Formula Fed Babies • lean meat, chicken, turkey,
• 1 to 6 tablespoons per day Note: More breastfeedings per day may be
Birth to 1 month: fish* (no shellfish), dry beans, or
needed, especially for younger babies. Before Bedtime
• 2 to 3 oz formula per feeding egg yolk (yellow part of the egg only)
Water • breastfeed or give 6 to 8 oz formula
• 8 to 12 feedings per day • 1 to 6 tablespoons per day
• Babies over 6 months old who are
1 to 4 months: eating a variety of foods may need to be *See Health Advisory for Mercury in Fish Note: More breastfeedings per day may be
• 4 to 6 oz formula per feeding given about 4 to 8 oz of plain water per on the other side of this brochure. needed, especially for younger babies.
• 6 to 8 feedings per day day. There may be times when your baby
needs to be given more water. Check Making Your Own Baby Food
4 to 6 months:
Grains
with your baby’s health care provider for Make your own baby food or buy it in • crackers, toast, noodles, rice, grits, and
• 5 to 8 oz formula per feeding more information. jars at the grocery store. See the “Baby soft tortilla pieces
• 5 to 6 feedings per day At 8 to 10 months, let your baby begin
Food Tips” on the back of this brochure
• 2 to 3 times per day
Fruit Juice is not recommended for for information about buying baby food. to eat some foods with his/her fingers.
To make pureed baby food: At 10 to 12 months, let your baby begin
Water babies under 12 months of age. Yogurt and Soft Cheese to feed himself/herself with a spoon.
Healthy babies under 6 months old 1. Prepare meats by removing the • small amounts
do not usually need to be given water bones, skin, and visible fat.
bottles. Check with your baby’s health
Baby Cereal 2. P r e p a r e f r e s h f r u i t s a n d Water
care provider for more information.
How many tablespoons are in a jar of vegetables by scrubbing and peeling • 4 to 8 oz per day or as needed. See
• Begin iron-for tified baby off the skin. Remove stems, pits, and
baby food? information about water in the 6 to 8
cereal bet ween 4 and 6 seeds. Some fresh fruits, like bananas, months section. Check with your baby’s
months. For babies who are and most canned fruits and vegetables health care provider for more information.
only breastfed, wait until about don’t need to be cooked before
6 months. 5 tablespoons = pureeing. Buy canned foods that have
• Start with rice baby cereal. no added sugar, syrup, or salt. Fruit Juice is not recommended for
Mix dry cereal with breast- babies under 12 months of age.
milk, infant formula, or water. 8 tablespoons = 3. Boil foods until soft, in just enough
• Feed rice cereal for 1 week, water to cover foods. Allow to cool.
then start oatmeal or barley Puree food in a food processor or
cereal. Feed your baby only blender, adding small amounts of
one new cereal each week. 12 tablespoons = cooking water until mixture is smooth At 8 to 10 months, most babies are At 10 to 12 months, most babies are
• Feed 1 to 8 tablespoons and creamy. ready to begin to eat mashed or ready to begin to eat chopped foods.
prepared cereal per day with ground foods.
a spoon, not in a bottle or
Most babies are ready to eat baby infant feeder.
cereal when they can hold their • Wait until 8 months to start
heads steady, sit with some support, mixed grain baby cereal.
and take cereal off a spoon.